When God says wait

Patience is perhaps one of the hardest virtues to practice and live out in our day-to-day lives.

Consider toddlers and young children, for example. Ask them to wait for something—especially something they really, really want—and they will quickly let you know how hard they find it to be patient.

In today’s world, we have become very accustomed to instant gratification. Want instant hot food? Fast-food restaurants are just around the corner. Need quick entertainment? Open your phone and scroll through social media. Looking for something specific by tomorrow? Next-day delivery is widely available. Need to connect with someone? Send a text or call. As a generation, we are growing used to not having to wait and often become frustrated when we are required to.

But instant gratification is not biblical. In fact, it could be argued that it is rooted in sin. Satan often entices us with quick fixes. He tempts us to take the easy path—the path of least resistance. God, however, calls us to a higher standard. He requires that we first turn to Him and seek His direction. And sometimes, that means waiting. Sometimes, it means waiting for a very long time!

There are countless examples of biblical figures who had to wait. Sarah and Abraham, for instance, had to wait to become parents. It is believed that Sarah waited over 25 years to conceive! A key element of their story, however, is that God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son:

“And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give you a son also of her: yes, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” (Genesis 17:15–17)

God never breaks His promises. He is a God of His word. So, if God has promised you something and you have yet to see the evidence of that promise, stay steadfast in your faith. Exercise patience. God will deliver, and He is always on time.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

It can be incredibly difficult not to grow impatient during a season of waiting—especially when we know God has promised us something, yet we cannot see how He is working to fulfil that promise. This verse in Isaiah is a helpful reminder that we are not God. Even if the solution or “answered promise” seems simple to us, it does not mean it aligns with God’s way or timing. We must trust in the fact that God knows all. He sees what we cannot, He knows the beginning and the end, and therefore His timing and His way are always perfect.

Moses is another example of someone who had to wait for God to fulfil His promise. God assured Moses that He would deliver the Israelites from Egypt, but He didn’t provide a detailed plan or a specific timeline. Moses had to have faith, even when things looked grim—even in the face of sickness, death, and hardship.

“And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:17)

Moses had to wait again for the realisation of the promise of the Promised Land. Many of us know this story which depicts the Israelites and their persistent impatience, moaning and lack of faith; because of this it took them 40 years to receive God's promise! This is perhaps a good example of not delaying our promises through our own inability to wait and lean on God’s goodness.

“The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD.” (Joshua 5:6)

But what if God hasn’t explicitly promised you something? What if you are waiting with no clear idea of what the outcome may be? How do you maintain faith and remain patient during such a season? The story of Joseph offers a profound lesson.

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. As a servant, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison, where he spent several years. It would have been easy for Joseph to feel hopeless or forgotten by God. Yet he remained patient and continued to honour God during his season of waiting.

While God did not promise Joseph anything explicitly, He did speak to him through dreams and visions, revealing glimpses of the future. Similarly, when we are in a waiting season, God may reveal things to us through dreams, visions, or prophetic words from others. As the author of our stories, God sees the beginning, middle, and end. Every sentence, every page, every chapter serves a purpose. Joseph’s waiting season was not wasted; he went from being a prisoner to holding a position of great power, second only to Pharaoh. God has a perfect plan for our lives.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

This verse is a powerful reminder that God uses every moment—even those that seem painful or confusing—to bring glory to Himself.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Notice the verse says all things, not some things. This means that even if your waiting season feels strange, unfamiliar, or difficult, you can trust that God is working through it.

There’s a saying: “anything worth having takes time.” While this may not always hold true, it resonates with many aspects of life. A baby takes nine months to develop in the womb. Most would agree that children are very much worth having and yet to have one, you are required to wait. If you want to go on holiday there is a period of waiting as you leave one location and travel to the other. The formation of gold in the earth is thought to take thousands and thousands of years. Some things can simply not be rushed and neither can your story!

Rushing a waiting season can lead to consequences outside of God’s plan. That doesn’t mean He won’t use those consequences for your good—He will—but it can prolong the process. For example, Sarah’s decision to rush her waiting season led to the birth of Ishmael. Though God blessed Ishmael, Sarah’s choice had lasting consequences.

Ultimately, all of us will at some point in life endure a waiting season and it is often a very challenging season to walk through, but nonetheless, we must remain obedient to God’s will and keep our eyes fixed on Him. Remember, and hold close, the truth that God WILL use the waiting for your betterment. Many of us have testimonies which show the goodness which can result from a season of waiting. Do not be discouraged. Time is never wasted with God. He loves you, you are His precious child and He will never let you down.

Stay blessed.